The BFA are sorry to announce the very sad news that Mr Lance Clark has died peacefully at home in Brighton aged 81.

Lance was born into the Clark family in 1936, one of five children, and was brought up in Street, Somerset. Lance played a very significant role in Clarks throughout his career heading up Clarks Ltd as Managing Director. He was responsible for overseeing the development the world famous Wallabee shoe in the 1960s and took a leading role in the campaign to keep the company under family ownership in the 1990s.

Since his time at Clarks Lance retained a strong connection to footwear sector, having spent time with Barker Shoes and more recently through pioneering the trade through aid brand Soul of Africa, and as chairman of his son Galahad’s company, VivoBarefoot.

Over the years Lance credited his desire to help others to his Quaker roots. One comment made in an interview with the Guardian newspaper summed up his approach: “The philosophy is to work hard and try to make money but not to use it to show off ostentatiously but to try and help others and behave in an ethical fashion.”

Mike Shearwood CEO of Clarks said “We have lost an immense character who will be forever prominent in our company’s history.”

The BFA’s thoughts are with his family, and especially his wife, children and grandchildren. I am sure the whole footwear industry will join in sending our heartfelt condolences to them all at this most difficult of times.